Howitzer

Definition

The definition of the howitzer differs according to the times.

The first howitzers owe their name with the fact that they drew from the Obus, i.e. hollow projectiles which exploded after their fall, contrary with the gun S which drew from the full ball S. They appear in the middle of the 17th century.

The full ball, less effective, disappears towards 1850 and the guns draw consequently also from the shells. The distinction between gun and howitzer is established then on the basis of firing angle: less 45° it is a gun, plus it is an howitzer.

As of the First World War appears pieces of artillery which can draw with all rises. For this time, the criterion of determination has been the relationship between the length of the tube and its gauge. In lower part of 20 (25 in the USA), it is an howitzer, above it is a gun.

In practice the howitzers continue to draw with a slope higher than 45° (vertical shooting); the plunging shooting (less 45°) is planned only for the case where a battery would be confronted with an attack on its position. As for the guns, as they draw normally with long range, a slope lower than 45° proves to be preferable. Indeed, the plunging shooting returns the time of flight of the shorter and, consequently, reduced projectile dispersion.

A howitzer is not a mortar because this last does not have a mobile Culasse and generally takes care by the mouth, while letting slip the projectile into the tube. Currently, it is especially used by the Infanterie.

Designation howitzer , used inter alia in the United States, is a Czech word of origin meaning catapults, which dates from the Empire of Austria-Hungary. At that time, of the Czechs engaged in artillery compared the curved trajectory of the shell with that of the projectile of this weapon.

Technical considerations

General information

The modern howitzers are tractor drawn or self-propelled (abbreviation SP in English, for S Elf P ropelled; in French, one uses the denomination AM, which wants to say has uto' Me otor French designation is rather " Au" for " automoteur" (cf 155 In F1) and " Am" for " automouvant (155 Am F3), knowing that in France, a piece of artillery known as " Au" carry on its board the ammunition which it uses for the shooting, whereas a piece of artillery known as " Am" is simply propelled, but does not carry any artillery ammunition. The SP are crawler-mounted vehicles often provided with an enormous turret making them resemble tanks.

In the old Western camp the most current howitzers were of gauge 105 mm for tractor drawn and of 105 mm, 155 mm and 8 inches for the SP.

In old the Warsaw Pact the most current gauges were of 122 and 152 Misters.

Some types of shell

  • HE: ( H igh E xplosive) explosive either with the impact (percussion) or just above the enemy (fusing)
  • ILL: ( ILL uminating) lighting (the shell releases in the air a lighting pot hung with a parachute)
  • HEAT: ( H igh E xplosive has nti T ank) for the direct shooting against armored vehicles (if the artillery position is invaded). American the M107 shell weighs 19.6 kg (including 15.8% of explosive) and is long 800 mm
  • SMK: ( SM o' K' E, smoked ) smoke-producing
  • with gas: in equipment in the old Naked Warsaw Pact
  • : the howitzers 8 inches have a nuclear capacity

Some types of howitzers

  • Howitzer 105 mm SP (US model M108)
    • Mass: 21 T
    • Carried: 13,5 km
    • Mass of the shell HE: 15 kg
    • normal Rate of shooting: 4 blows/minute

  • the howitzer 155 mm SP (US model M109)

    • Mass: 24 T
    • Portée: 13,5 km
    • Mass of the shell HE: 44 kg
    • normal Rate of shooting: 2 blows/minute
    • Diaporama

  • Howitzer 8 inches SP (US model M10)

    • Mass: 27 T
    • Carried: 15 km
    • Mass of the shell HE: 91 kg
    • normal Rate of shooting: 1 blow/minute
    • Diaporama

  • Howitzer 155 mm SP contemporary (PzH 2000)

    • Mass: 55 T
    • Length: 11.7 bills of quantities
    • Width: 3.6 bills of quantities
    • Height: 3.1 bills of quantities
    • Mass: 55 tons
    • Speed on road: 60 km/h
    • Speed except road: 45 km/h
    • Autonomy: 420 km
    • Crew: 5 (commander, driver, man of part, 2 chargers)
    • Length of the gun: 52 gauges (8 meters)
    • Carried shell: 30 km (40 km with rocket)
    • Rate of shooting: 5 blows/minute (normal), 10 blows/minute (max)
    • Diaporama

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